Happy New Year to football fans across the globe! 2026 kicked off with AFCON drama, late winners and gut-punch equalisers, Premier League title twists, and heavyweight clashes across Europe. From Arsenal’s relentless charge to Algeria and Nigeria’s perfect group stages, the new year has already hit full throttle.
🌍African Cup of Nations🌍
Appollis’ late penalty seals Bafana Bafana’s dramatic progress as Zimbabwe exits tournament
South Africa clinched Round of 16 progression with a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory over Zimbabwe in Group B’s final match, with Oswin Appollis’ 82nd-minute penalty proving decisive after a pulsating encounter. Tshepang Moremi’s deflected seventh-minute opener and Lyle Foster’s second-half header twice gave South Africa the advantage, yet Tawanda Maswanhise’s clinical finishes and Aubrey Modiba’s own goal kept Zimbabwe alive. Appollis’ VAR-awarded spot-kick after Marvellous Nakamba’s handball sealed the points, sending Bafana Bafana through as Group B runners-up with six points.
El Kaabi’s double seals Morocco’s clinical Group A dominance as hosts eye Trophy Glory
Morocco secured top spot in Group A with a commanding 3-0 demolition of 2012 champions Zambia at Stade de Marrakech, showcasing their clinical attacking prowess with El Kaabi’s brace and Brahim Diaz’s contribution. El Kaabi’s ninth-minute header from Azzedine Ounahi’s lofted assist opened the floodgates before Brahim made it 2-0 with a converted pull-back. El Kaabi sealed the rout with a spectacular 45th-minute bicycle kick, demonstrating Morocco’s superiority against outmatched opposition heading into knockout football.
Onyedika’s double seals Nigeria’s perfect Group Stage as Super Eagles top Group C unbeaten
Nigeria secured their first 100% group-stage record at AFCON with a dominant 3-1 victory over Uganda despite Ugandan goalkeeper drama affecting the encounter. Paul Onuachu opened the scoring in the 28th minute from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s low centre, before Uganda’s initial goalkeeper Denis Onyango’s injury and substitute Salim Magoola’s 56th-minute red card for handling Victor Osimhen’s shot completely changed the match. Raphael Onyedika’s brace in the 62nd and 67th minutes sealed Nigeria’s progression as Group C winners with nine points, showcasing their attacking dominance with 2.87 expected goals from 13 shots.
Petkovic’s Nine-man rotation pays dividends as Algeria tops Group E with a perfect record
Algeria coasted to a commanding 3-1 victory over already-eliminated Equatorial Guinea despite Vladimir Petkovic fielding a heavily rotated starting XI, securing top spot in Group E with a flawless nine-point record. Zineddine Belaid’s glancing header from Anis Hadj Moussa’s corner opened the scoring in the 19th minute, with Fares Chaibi doubling the lead six minutes later from Ibrahim Maza’s assist. Maza himself added Algeria’s third goal before the half-hour mark, with the Bayer Leverkusen youngster creating four chances as Algeria dominated possession and produced 1.53 expected goals from 16 shots, showcasing their depth despite wholesale changes.
Late Elephants comeback seals Group F glory for holders as Gabon fall agonizingly short
Ivory Coast mounted a dramatic second-half comeback to defeat Gabon 3-2 in Group F’s final match, securing top spot as AFCON defending champions showcased their resilience against group rivals. Gabon’s initial two-goal advantage proved insufficient as the Elephants’ superior technical quality and character shone through in the closing stages. The holders’ progression to the knockout rounds despite the group-stage scare suggests danger for their title defence
🏴Premier League🏴
Pressure peaks as Chelsea’s slide continues with Maresca’s departure amid hierarchy breakdown
Chelsea drew 2-2 at home to Bournemouth on New Year’s Eve before announcing Enzo Maresca’s departure on January 1, ending his 18-month spell following a catastrophic run of one win in seven league matches. David Brooks’ early strike and Cole Palmer’s penalty conversion bracketed the encounter, with Chelsea’s inconsistency and over-rotation finally breaking the hierarchy’s patience. Maresca’s exit resulted from escalating behavioural concerns and public displays of dissent toward ownership, with sources citing medical load disputes rather than specific incidents.
Amorim sacked after United draw twice in three days against lower-half opposition
Manchester United drew 1-1 at home to Wolves on Tuesday, extending their miserable run to just one win in five league matches as Amorim’s tactical experiments continue to yield poor results. Goals from both sides proved insufficient with United unable to convert their attacking moves into victories despite playing against struggling opposition. The draw left United’s supporters frustrated, booing the team off after another disappointing display that showcased their offensive impotence and defensive vulnerabilities throughout the encounter.
Manchester United suffered a cruel blow just 48 hours later, being held to another 1-1 draw away at Leeds, with Brenden Aaronson’s strike cancelled by Matheus Cunha’s quick equalizer in a pulsating Yorkshire encounter. Cunha struck within 174 seconds of Aaronson’s 62nd-minute opener, with both sides creating further chances in a frantic finale featuring post strikes from either end. The consecutive draws left Amorim’s credentials under serious question, with one win in their last five matches, resulting in Amorim parting ways with the Red Devils.
Gunners dismantle Villa’s record win streak before sealing crucial away victory to extend title lead
Arsenal delivered a statement 4-1 victory over third-placed Aston Villa on New Year’s Day, shattering the club’s record 11-match winning streak with devastating second-half dominance. Gabriel Magalhães’ penalty, Martin Zubimendi’s clinical finish, and Leandro Trossard’s volley showcased Arsenal’s attacking prowess, with Gabriel Jesus finally ending his drought. The emphatic performance moved Arsenal six points clear and proved their credentials as genuine title contenders heading into January’s crucial fixtures.
Declan Rice’s powerful brace powered Arsenal to a precious 3-2 away comeback victory over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium in a thrilling second-half display despite early adversity. Gabriel Magalhães atoned for his error with a header before Rice orchestrated Arsenal’s second-half dominance through clinical finishing. Eli Junior Kroupi’s stunning 76th-minute long-range strike set up a nervy finale, yet Arsenal managed expertly to extend their summit advantage to six points over the chasing pack.
Leeds’ defensive resilience halts Reds’ momentum before Harrison Reed’s Last-gasp screamer denies Liverpool victory
Liverpool’s five-match winning streak came to an abrupt halt on New Year’s Day as Leeds claimed their first clean sheet since August with a resolute 0-0 display at Anfield, frustrating Slot’s side with compact defensive organization. Despite Liverpool’s dominance in possession and chances created, Leeds’ goalkeeper and backline proved impenetrable, leaving the hosts without a goal for the first time in their recent positive run. The stalemate marked a concerning dent in Liverpool’s title aspirations, dropping three points against promoted opposition struggling at the bottom of the table.
Liverpool’s frustrations deepened when they surrendered a 2-1 advantage to draw 2-2 at Fulham, with Harry Wilson’s opening goal and Cody Gakpo’s dramatic 94th-minute leader-making strike cancelled by Harrison Reed’s spectacular 97th-minute piledriver from 30 yards. Florian Wirtz’s second-half finish levelled Wilson’s first-half opener, with Jeremie Frimpong’s assist setting up Gakpo seemingly to secure victory before Reed’s sensational finish silenced away supporters. The late equaliser extended Fulham’s unbeaten run against Liverpool to four matches, with Liverpool dropping further points in frustrating fashion despite battling back from behind twice.
City’s title hopes fade as dropped points extend Arsenal’s lead to six points
Manchester City drew 0-0 at Sunderland on New Year’s Day, extending their frustrating run with minimal attacking threat despite dominating possession throughout the encounter. Sunderland’s defensive resilience and goalkeeper Robin Roefs’ commanding display kept City at bay, with the visitors creating limited clear-cut opportunities despite territorial control. The goalless stalemate represented a missed opportunity to close the gap on leaders Arsenal, leaving City’s title hopes increasingly fragile heading into January’s decisive fixtures.
Manchester City’s woes deepened dramatically when they drew 1-1 at home to managerless Chelsea just three days later, with Enzo Fernández’s 94th-minute equalizer snatching an unlikely point from Guardiola’s struggling side. Reijnders’ emphatic first-half finish seemed to have secured City’s victory, yet Chelsea’s second-half resilience under interim boss McFarlane proved decisive when Fernández turned home twice from close range. City dropped further ground on Arsenal to six points, with their defensive vulnerabilities and inconsistent performances raising serious questions about their title credentials.
Arias, Hwang and Mane secure historic First-half blitz as Wolves claim first win of disastrous season
Wolverhampton Wanderers finally secured their first Premier League victory of the season with a devastating 3-0 demolition of West Ham United at Molineux on New Year’s Day, ending the longest winless streak from the start of any season at 20 matches. Jhon Arias’ fourth-minute opener, Hwang Hee-chan’s penalty conversion, and Mateus Mane’s powerful finish in a devastating 37-minute first-half blitz left West Ham helpless. Wolves’ emphatic performance provided hope for supporters and manager Rob Edwards despite their dire league position.
🇪🇸La Liga🇪🇸
Joan Garcia’s heroics seal Barcelona’s dramatic comeback as Blaugrana maintain lead at the top
Barcelona survived a determined Espanyol performance to secure a dramatic 2-0 victory at RCDE Stadium with late goals from substitute Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski sealing all three points in stoppage time. Joan García’s exceptional goalkeeping prevented early Espanyol breakthroughs throughout the encounter as Barça controlled possession without penetrating. Olmo’s curled 86th-minute finish from Fermín López’s incisive pass followed by Lewandowski’s rebound goal secured Barcelona’s comfortable seven-point summit advantage.
Gonzalo García’s hat-trick seals Madrid’s dominant New Year Victory to strengthen title push against Barcelona
Real Madrid delivered an emphatic 5-1 demolition of Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabéu in their first match of 2026, Gonzalo García completing an extraordinary hat-trick in devastating fashion, despite Mbappe being sidelined from injury. García’s three goals in the 20th, 50th, and 82nd minutes showcased Madrid’s attacking prowess after coming off the bench, with Raúl Asencio and Fran García adding clinical finishes. Madrid’s four-game winning streak and dominant performance moved them within striking distance of Barcelona’s summit, with Betis offering no resistance against the European heavyweights.
Guedes’ quick leveller seals draw as Atleti’s recent form stutters away from home
Atlético Madrid’s impressive four-match winning streak came to an abrupt halt with a 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad, with Gonçalo Guedes’ swift counter-attacking finish cancelling out Alexander Sorloth’s opening-minute header. Sorloth headed unmarked to the far post from Giuliano Simeone’s pinpoint cross five minutes after the restart, yet Guedes levelled from Takefusa Kubo’s cutback just five minutes later in devastating fashion. Atlético’s poor away form continued despite multiple chances to secure all three points, leaving them fourth and 11 points adrift of Barcelona.
🇮🇹Serie A🇮🇹
Leão’s clinical finish seals Milan’s narrow victory to open 2026 with perfect three points
AC Milan registered a crucial 1-0 away victory over Cagliari on New Year’s Day through Rafael Leão’s 50th-minute finish from Adrien Rabiot’s assist, extending their unbeaten run and provisionally moving top of Serie A. Milan’s clinical second-half breakthrough proved decisive in a tightly contested encounter against compact Cagliari, with Milan’s tenth clean sheet of the season showcasing their defensive solidity. The Rossoneri’s performance demonstrated the tactical discipline needed to compete for the championship heading into January’s crucial fixtures.
Jonathan David’s penalty miss denies Juve victory as lowly Lecce claim a surprising point at Allianz Stadium
Juventus were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Lecce after Canadian striker Jonathan David’s 89th-minute penalty was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone, who perfectly read David’s central chip attempt. Weston McKennie’s 48th-minute opener was cancelled by Lameck Banda’s audacious half-time finish, leaving Juve five points adrift of leaders Milan despite playing fewer matches. David’s penalty miss represented a significant missed opportunity in Juventus’ title challenge as they prepare for crucial January fixtures.
Giorgio Scalvini’s strike seals Bergamo victory as Roma drop fifth following defensive collapse
Giorgio Scalvini’s decisive goal fired Atalanta to a crucial 1-0 away victory over Roma, moving Bergamo to fourth place while Roma dropped to fifth despite a spirited performance. The match remained tightly contested throughout, with Atalanta’s clinical finishing proving decisive in a low-scoring encounter that showcased defensive organization from both sides. Atalanta’s victory moved them ahead of Roma on goal difference, with both sides fighting for European qualification spots heading into the New Year.
Politano’s creative brilliance seals Napoli’s dominant victory as Conte’s side climb Serie A table amid three Red card drama
Napoli registered a crucial 2-0 away victory over Lazio with Matteo Politano orchestrating both goals in a commanding performance that showcased the attacking midfielder’s creative brilliance despite the match’s volatile atmosphere. Leonardo Spinazzola’s volley from Politano’s right-flank cross opened proceedings in the 13th minute, before Amir Rrahmani’s powerful header from the Italian’s free-kick doubled Napoli’s advantage in the 33rd minute. Napoli’s clinical performance moved them second, just one point below leaders AC Milan, with their fine form continuing despite David Neres’ injury concerns, adding to their growing casualty list.
Thuram’s stunner seals Inter’s return to Serie A summit with dominant performance
Inter Milan reclaimed the Serie A summit with a commanding 3-1 home victory over Bologna, showcasing their attacking prowess with Piotr Zielinski’s deflected first-half opener setting the tone for a dominant display. Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram’s clinical conversions after the restart sealed Inter’s supremacy, with Bologna’s Santiago Castro’s 83rd-minute consolation irrelevant to the hosts’ comprehensive dominance. The victory moved Inter to 39 points, one above AC Milan, with Inter’s form suggesting they remain genuine title contenders heading into the crucial January period.
🇫🇷Ligue 1🇫🇷
Saïd’s second-half strike ignites Lens dominance as Leaders cruise to a comfortable victory in New Year’s Statement
RC Lens maintained their impressive form with a commanding 3-0 away victory over Toulouse, with Wesley Saïd’s second-half breakthrough igniting a dominant display that showcased their league-leading credentials. Adrien Thomasson’s late insurance goal added gloss to the scoreline as Lens demonstrated the attacking prowess that has propelled them to the league summit. Lens’ victory extended their lead at the top as they aim for their first Ligue 1 title in the club’s history.
Frankowski and Merlin seal Rennes’ shocking upset win as Lille’s unbeaten Home run ends in dramatic fashion
Stade Rennais inflicted a shock 2-0 defeat on previously unbeaten Lille at the Decathlon Arena with strikes from Przemysław Frankowski and Quentin Merlin sealing a memorable New Year’s Day upset. Lille’s home fortress fell for the first time this season as Rennes capitalized on clinical finishing and disciplined defending to secure three crucial points. The victory moved Rennes level on points with Lille while maintaining their challenge for European qualification spots in Ligue 1’s competitive table.
Centonze and Cabella strike seals a shocking Nantes upset against Marseille in a surprising result
Nantes claimed a shock 2-0 away victory at Marseille on January 4, with Fabien Centonze’s 31st-minute finisher and Rémy Cabella’s 88th-minute penalty sealing a memorable upset against the high-flying hosts. Centonze’s powerful finish from close range and Cabella’s composed penalty conversion proved decisive despite Marseille’s attacking dominance throughout the encounter. The stunning result dealt a significant blow to Marseille’s European qualification push, with Nantes’ defensive solidity and counter-attacking prowess proving too much for the inconsistent hosts struggling in mid-table.
Dembélé’s winner seals Capital Derby victory as PSG remain one point behind Leaders Lens
Paris Saint-Germain secured bragging rights in the first Paris capital derby since 1990 with a thrilling 2-1 victory over city rivals Paris FC, with Ousmane Dembélé’s deflected 53rd-minute finish proving decisive against resilient opponents. Désiré Doué’s first-half strike gave PSG the lead, yet Willem Geubbels’ 51st-minute penalty equalized proceedings before Dembélé’s clinical finish restored PSG’s advantage within seconds. PSG’s victory moved them one point behind surprising leaders Lens as they aim for an unprecedented league title, demonstrating their class against moderate opposition.
🚨Transfer Corner🚨
- Beşiktaş have made an offer to sign Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo on an 18-month loan deal.
- Manchester United want Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba as their next midfield signing, but now face rival interest from both Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
- Palace have decided to sign Diamonde from Sporting CP to replace the departing Marc Guehi.
- Spurs are looking to sign Samu Ageueowha from Porto, but the deal would not be easy.
- Jean-Philippe Mateta has decided not to renew his contract, amidst interest from Ac Milan & Juventus.
- Dortmund are leading the race to sign teenage sensation Asallani, who was also linked with Barca, Bayern & several other clubs.
- Nico Paz’s buy-back clause would be activated by Real Madrid in this summer.
- Omar Marmoush is upset & is looking for a move away from City, as they have signed Semenyo.
- Joel Ordonez is a target for Liverpool to replace Konate.
- Aston Villa would like to buy Igor Thiago, but the deal at this moment is pretty complicated.
- Nathan Ake is looking to go back to Bournemouth as he has fallen out of favour in this City side.
- Manuel Ugarte would definitely leave United this summer. The Turkish league is his preferred destination.
- Darwin Nunez is looking to return to Europe, as he is upset with AL Hilal.
- Bournemouth are looking to sign Nwaeri on loan from Arsenal, as the teenager feels like he is wasting his potential on the bench.
- Matteo Guendouzi is set to leave Lazio as he is set to sign for Sunderland.
